Audubon de México's new trips and hikes June 23, 2006


Audubon de México celebrates the coming seasons in San Miguel with several regional trips and hikes.

First, monthly birdwalks, led by Fen Taylor, venture to special locations for birding in the San Miguel area. The hikes are approximately three to four hours long. They take place on the third Sunday of each month and originate in front of Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20, at 8am. The hikes are free to members of the local chapter. A contribution of 100 pesos is requested from nonmembers.

Two day-long hikes are planned for July and September. On Saturday, July 8, Audubon travels into the Sierra Gorda, the mountains east of San Miguel, to explore a rarely visited canyon. The trip is led by Pedro López, a local shaman, who will point out local medicinal plants and herbs. The trip ends with an optional visit to a temazcal, a Mexican version of the North American Indian sweat lodge. This is a moderate hike and participants should be in good shape for a day-long adventure. The fee for Audubon members is 150 pesos, which covers transportation and the services of our guide. The fee for nonmembers is 300 pesos. Transportation will be by private autos. We always need drivers, so consider volunteering. 

In September, we take a day-long trip to the Santa Rosa ecological preserve between Dolores Hidalgo and Guanajuato. We are assisted on the hike by local park rangers, who point out the variety of fauna and flora.

To sign up for either trip, call Al Lerner at 152-8159.

Audubon is also returning to Tolantongo, a beautiful canyon in Hidalgo state, 

September 26 through 28. Tolantongo is a hard place to describe; it is a 3,000-foot canyon with an aquamarine thermal river at the bottom, replete with tropical foliage, grottos, side canyons and naturally formed hot pools and waterfalls.

We spend two nights and three days, and the US $155 fee for Audubon members includes transportation, double-room lodging, transportation in private vehicles, snacks and daily admission to ejido-owned lands. There are only spaces for three more, so those interested should sign up soon. For more information, call Bruce Carruth at 152-2177.

Future trips planned by Audubon include the Copper Canyon, in Chihuahua state, from November 25 to December 3, 2006, led by Mark Scholl. This trip is full and has a waiting list. Audubon will conduct another trip to the Copper Canyon in 2007.


In February 2007, Audubon will visit the butterfly reserve in Michoacán state. This two-day, one-night trip will be led by Bob Graham, a San Miguel resident, former naturalist with the Canadian parks system and former president of Audubon de México.

Additional trips in the planning stage for winter 2006-2007 include an excursion to the waterfalls of the Sierra Gorda, led by Don Knoles, along with short hikes and sightseeing at the Sierra Gorda missions. This trip includes one night in Jalpan and one night at Xilitla, where we will visit Edward James's famous home. 

Another winter trip in the planning stages is to the Colima volcano and the Pacific coast. Primarily for birders, the trip lasts seven days and eight nights, with two days of hiking various ecological zones of the Colima volcano and four nights on the Pacific coast. The group will meet and hike with birders from the Lake Chapala area and Puerto Vallarta. 

All of the trips are for small groups (10 to 15 participants) and emphasize outdoor activities-such as birding, hiking, swimming and exploring-and utilize private vehicles for transportation.

Audubon also is offering monthly lectures and presentations each third Tuesday of the month. In July, Ross Macdonald lectures on "The Evolution of Birds." In August, Mario Mendoza of El Charco del Ingenio (the local botanical garden) presents information on local flora, with particular emphasis on plants at the Charco. Both presentations are at 4pm at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel. There is no charge for Audubon members to attend; 50 pesos is requested for visitors.


Audubon de México has elected new officers for 2006-2007: President, Bruce Carruth; Executive Vice President, Mario Hernandez; Administrative Vice President, Bob Graham; Treasurer, Ross Macdonald and Secretary, Susan Colony.

For more information on Audubon membership, contact Saul Whynman at 152-2139.